| Speech by Mr Lim
Swee Say
Minister for the Environment At
the Official Launch of BP's Hydrogen Refuelling Station at Upper East Coast Road
19 July 2004, 11.15am Dr
Wu Shen Kong, President, BP Singapore Distinguished
Guests Ladies and
Gentlemen
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We are here this morning to witness
the launch of the BP Hydrogen Refuelling Station. It is a unique first for both
BP and Singapore. For BP, this station is the first in the world to co-locate
a hydrogen refuelling facility with an existing petrol station. For Singapore,
this is the first refuelling station for fuel cell vehicles. |
About three years ago,
BP, DaimlerChrysler and Air Products came together under the Singapore Initiative
in New Energy Technology (SINERGY) to test bed hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in
Singapore.
| BP's
participation in this project demonstrates its commitment to conduct experimentation
in Singapore, and support companies here to gain a first mover advantage in the
test bedding of innovative technology and new business models. Hydrogen
is a clean fuel that burns without emitting pollutants. Used in the fuel cells,
it combines with oxygen in the air to produce water and electric energy. |
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The use of hydrogen as
a clean fuel will help improve air quality. It will also help reduce the emission
of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. From the global environment perspective,
it will contribute to our efforts in curbing carbon dioxide emission to help reduce
global warming. BP's hydrogen station and DaimlerChrysler's fuel cell vehicle
are outstanding examples of what companies can do to help protect our global environment.
I am told that Singapore
is the first country in the world to site a hydrogen refuelling facility within
an existing petrol station. I also understand that BP is currently assessing options
for a second hydrogen refuelling station by end 2004. Besides offering greater
convenience to the vehicle operators, co-location with existing infrastructure
could reduce upfront investment and lower operating cost. These innovative business
models, when proven to be successful, will help lower the overall cost to users
and speed up commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in the future. Singapore
welcomes the test bedding of new technologies and business models, because innovation
enables us to overcome old limitations and open up new frontiers. Our compactness,
comprehensive infrastructure, protection of intellectual property rights, and
readiness to be early adopters of promising solutions, provide a conducive environment
for innovative companies and organisations to test out new ideas, and commercialise
them for the markets beyond Singapore.
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I would like to end by congratulating
BP and its partners on the opening of the first-ever hydrogen refuelling station
in Singapore. I wish you every success in this groundbreaking and exciting endeavour.
Thank you. | |
